Pressed & Dried

This piece was originally written as a song, with lyrics by Heather Wastie which were adapted as the piece developed. It concerned the feelings of someone who had been continually hounded by the press. Its origins mean that it needs to be vocalized, and should be performed preferably in a blues singing style. Pressed & Dried was recorded on the CD – ‘Safer Sax’.

The E-Edition PDF bundle includes Bb and Eb saxophone parts and piano accompaniment.

‘Pressed & Dried’ is included in the following exam syllabus:

TCL Jazz Saxophone – Grade 6 (Eb & Bb) – valid from November 2022

Please check the latest exam syllabi for updates and amendments.

Pressed & Dried by Heather Wastie

There’s a stranger
At my door
Don’t think I can take it
Any more
I never asked you to come here like you do
Now you’ve found me out
The story’s true
So what’s new?

Take your snap-shots
Show it all
Choose your headlines
Have a ball
And when it’s over and there’s nothing left to hide
Torn and twisted, you’ve squeezed me dry
They believe what they read
Truth or lies
So blatantly exposing me
Can’t you see?

Pressed and dried
On display
Caught and tried
Made to pay

There’s another stranger
At my door
Living on my doorstep
Knows the score
And as I watch you from my darkened room and cry
It makes me wonder why, oh why
They believe what they read
Truth or lies
So blatantly exposing me
Why choose me?